CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 4 Fighting Illini men's gymnastics will close out the regular season at No. 6 Penn State on Saturday, March 23, at 3 p.m.
With a win, the Illini would clinch at least a share of the regular-season Big Ten title for the first time in program history.
History
Illinois has a 46-61 record against Penn State but has defeated the Nittany Lions the past two years (2023: W, 408.800-401.750, 2022: W, 397.250-396.550).
The last time Illinois competed at the Rec Hall was at the 2023 NCAA Championships. The Illini scored a 415.590 and placed third in the country.
Scouting Report
Penn State is coming off a loss to No. 3 Michigan (425.600), in which the Nittany Lions scored a season-high 413.600 as well as team highs on floor (68.600), rings (71.200) and vault (72.100).
Junior Josh Karnes competed in the all-around for the first time this season, posting a score of 81.200 and collecting two career highs on floor (14.500) and on rings (14.150).
Rankings
The Illini stayed at No. 4 in the Road to Nationals rankings with a 413.200-406.350 win over No. 7 Ohio State on Saturday.
Illinois has an athlete ranked in each event: Connor McCool is second nationally on floor, Tate Costa is 15th on floor, Brandon Dang is first on pommel horse, Will Hauke is 12th on pommel horse, Ashton Anaya is third on still rings, Amari Sewell is first on vault, Garrett Schooley is 14th on vault, Michael Fletcher is 18th on vault, Hauke is eighth on parallel bars, Fletcher is 14th on parallel bars, Ryan Vanichtheeranont is seventh on high bar, Logan Myers is 12th on high bar, Costa is 16th on high bar as well as tied for third in all-around.
